Rev. Joe Jeffreys ordained in United Church of Christ and installed at Chelsea First Congregational Church

Courtesy photo. From left. Rev. Peter Rose Kamprath, Rev. James C. Coyl, St. Paul UCC, Chelsea, Rev. Dr. Campbell Lovett, the Conference Minister, Rev. Joe Jeffreys (in white robe) and additional clergy in the background.

By Lisa Carolin
Before spring arrived, clergy came from far and wide to attend the Ordination and Installation of the Rev. Joe Jeffreys into the United Church of Christ (UCC), serving First Congregational Church in Chelsea.

The ceremony took place on Feb. 22 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ on East Middle Street in Chelsea. Following his consecration into ordained ministry, Pastor Joe was installed as pastor and teacher at First Congregational. He told those in attendance, “I am willing, and I promise to serve this church faithfully, preaching and teaching the word of God, administering the sacraments, and fulfilling the office, according to the faith and order of the United Church of Christ.”

Courtesy photo. Rev. Joe Jeffreys and his wife, Lisa Jeffreys. “Lisa’s support and unconditional love have smoothed many rough roads and provided light in the darkness. I pray for all people answering God’s call to have a “Lisa” in their camp, offering support, love and understanding,” Jeffreys said.

“This has been a journey of nearly three years for all of us at First Congregational and a journey of over ten years for me,” said Jeffreys. “We have grown spiritually together, faced challenges, shared our sorrows, made mistakes, and celebrated many joys and high points in our church family. We walk hand in hand to discern how God is leading us into the future.”

Marsha Rinke, the church’s Minister of Music, participated and helped plan the ceremony.

“An ordination is like a wedding ceremony where sacred vows are exchanged,” said Rinke.”In the United Church of Christ (UCC), the candidate for ordination must first be approved through an Ecclesiastical Council.”

The Michigan Conference of the UCC approved Pastor Joe in November 2014.

Close to 180 people attended the ordination, which included clergy, the congregation, friends and family. Rev. Dr. Campbell Lovett, Conference Minister of the Michigan Conference of the UCC, led the service.

Also present were members of the Chelsea Ministerial Association, who represented many local churches as well as clergy from other UCC churches in Michigan.